THREE bikers were killed in two accidents in the Selby area.

The first crash happened at 3.22pm yesterday at the notorious Balne crossroads, just south of Whitley Bridge.

A motorbike travelling north towards Selby was in collision with a tractor travelling in the opposite direction.

The motorcycle rider, a 33-year-old man from the Doncaster area, and his 23-year-old female pillion passenger, also from Doncaster, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

The tractor driver was taken to Pontefract General Infirmary suffering from severe shock.

The A19 trunk road was closed for nearly seven hours.

Balne crossroads has been the scene of numerous accidents, several of them fatal.

Less than three hours later, soon after 6pm, the emergency services were called to another accident near Selby.

It happened at the Gateforth Lane junction on the A63 between Hambleton and Monk Fryston.

A police spokesman said a motorcycle and a silver Vauxhall Astra collided near the junction.

The motorbike rider - who is believed to be in his thirties and from Camblesforth, near Selby - was pronounced dead at the scene.

The male driver of the Astra suffered minor shoulder and facial injuries.

The A63 was closed for more than five hours.

The latest fatalities bring the motorbike deaths toll on North Yorkshire's roads to 16 so far this year.

Updated: 11:33 Monday, July 21, 2003